Communication Support Worker

Application closing date

27/07/2026

Working Pattern

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Salary

Grade C £23,583 - £25,989 a year

Contractual hours

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Basis

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Job category/type

Education / Learning

Attachments

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Role: Communication Support Worker (British Sign Language)

Salary: Grade C £23,583 - £25,989 a year

Location: Derby Adult Learning Service Centres

Hours: 37 hours a week (Open to job share)

Closing Date: 27/07/2026

Contract Type: Permanent

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated individual to join our Adult Learning team as a qualified Communication Support Worker (British Sign Language) and General Support Worker.

In this rewarding role you will provide high quality support to adult learners with a range of additional needs, including hearing impairment, helping them to access learning opportunities, develop skills, independence and achieve their personal and educational goals.

As a Communication Support Worker/ Support Worker, you will work alongside tutors and support staff to create an inclusive, empowering and engaging learning environment. You will be expected to work flexibly in various venues across the city.

If you have a level 3 or higher BSL qualification and excellent people skills , we have a place for you on our hard working and successful support team.

Who We Are

Here at Derby City Council, we’re dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it’s like to work for us.

What We Offer

You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you’ll also receive:

• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers

The Opportunity

In the role of Communication Support Worker/Support Worker, here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:

Provide one to one or small group support for adult learners in classroom and community settiings.

Facilitate communication between deaf learners, tutors, and peers using British Sign Language (BSL)

Assist learners with understanding and completing learning tasks and materials.

Identify and implement support strategies to remove barriers to learning.

Support learners with additional needs to access learning and participate fully in activities.

Promote independence, confidence and active participation among all learners.

Maintain accurate records of support provided and learner progress.

Ensure that working practices have regard to equal opportunities and the needs and welfare of the learners and staff.

About You

To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have…

Essential

Minimum Level 2 British Sign Language with experience

English Level 2

Maths Level 2

Excellent spoken and written communication skills

The ability to write effectively for a number of purposes

An understanding of barriers to learning

A flexible and empathetic approach to working with learners from diverse backgrounds.

The ability to work in groups in a team

Reliable, trustworthy, accountable and confidential

Desirable

Level 3 or above British Sign language preferred

Experience in supporting the needs of adults with additional needs in order for them to gain access to learning opportunities

Experience of working with adults with a hearing impairment in an educational or community setting

IT skills - to assist in the preparation of learning materials and resources

Next Steps

If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via theDerby City Council website.

The closing date for this vacancy is at midnight on 27 June 2026. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

If you would prefer to apply for this job using your CV, then please download the attached Declaration Form and send it to ***email_hidden***. Without a completed declaration form, your application will not be accepted. We also encourage you to download the Equalities Form and return this to [email protected], however this is optional and will not affect your application.

Important Information

Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are below.

As part of our safer recruitment checks the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the job.

Before you complete your application, please read our guidance on filling in your application form.

Remember to align your personal statement to the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

Please be aware that where there are colleagues within the organisation who are 'at risk' of redundancy, requirements to redeploy to another suitable role will apply and take priority.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.

We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for.

Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we’ll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it’s all about removing barriers to equality.

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy or are having difficulty applying, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK - 18001 01332 640 844) or at [email protected]. https://www.derby.gov.uk/signing-service/